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Travel bucket list: 100 ideas by continent

From the Grand Canyon to Machu Picchu: 100 places and travel experiences for your bucket list, sorted by continent. Take what excites you, cross out what doesn’t fit, and add your own.

You can print the whole list as a checklist. Or collect your places as pins on a world map in the Travel Wish Map app.

Get it on Google Play

My travel bucket list100 ideas by continent · checklist from travelwishmap.com

The list: 100 places by continent

North America and the Caribbean

Evening light on the walls of the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River far below
Grand Canyon, USA
Hiker on the shore of turquoise Moraine Lake below steep cliffs
Moraine Lake, Canada
  1. Grand CanyonArizona, USASunset on the rim of the canyon. It is more than a mile deep, carved by the Colorado River.
  2. New York CityUSACentral Park and the Manhattan skyline. The free Staten Island Ferry passes right by the Statue of Liberty.
  3. YellowstoneUSAThe Old Faithful geyser. Yellowstone, founded in 1872, was the world’s first national park. Old Faithful erupts about every 60 to 110 minutes.
  4. YosemiteCalifornia, USAEl Capitan and Half Dome. El Capitan rises about 3,000 ft straight up from the valley floor.
  5. Zion National ParkUtah, USAHike The Narrows through the Virgin River. For the famous Angels Landing hike you need a permit from a lottery.
  6. Antelope CanyonArizona, USASlot canyon near Page, visited on a guided tour. It lies on Navajo land, so you can only enter with a Navajo guide.
  7. Route 66USARoad trip from Chicago to Santa Monica. The road runs almost 2,450 miles through eight states.
  8. Big IslandHawaii, USAVolcanoes in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Kīlauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.
  9. DenaliAlaska, USANorth America’s highest peak, 20,310 ft (6,190 m). Clouds often hide the summit, so a clear view makes it a lucky day.
  10. Moraine LakeCanadaTurquoise mountain lake in Banff National Park. The turquoise color comes from fine glacial rock flour. Private cars are not allowed on the road, so you take a shuttle bus.
  11. Niagara FallsCanada and USATake a boat close to the falls. Boats run from both sides. On the US side the tour is called Maid of the Mist.
  12. Chichén ItzáMexicoMaya city on the Yucatán Peninsula. It is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
  13. CenotesMexicoSwim in the limestone sinkholes of Yucatán. There are thousands of them, many linked by caves.
  14. HavanaCubaOld town and the Malecón. Old Havana has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982.
  15. MonteverdeCosta RicaHanging bridges in the cloud forest. With some luck you will spot a resplendent quetzal, one of Central America’s most colorful birds.

South America

The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu behind it
Machu Picchu, Peru
An off-road vehicle on the wet salt flat, which mirrors the sky and clouds
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
  1. Machu PicchuPeruInca citadel in the Andes. It sits at about 7,970 ft (2,430 m). Entry is by timed ticket, so book early.
  2. Salar de UyuniBoliviaThe largest salt flat on Earth. In the rainy season, roughly December to April, it turns into a giant mirror.
  3. Torres del PaineChileHiking in Patagonia. The W Trek is the best-known route and usually takes four to five days.
  4. Easter IslandChileThe moai statues of Rapa Nui. Close to 900 moai stand on the island, which lies about 2,200 miles off the coast of Chile.
  5. Iguazú FallsArgentina and BrazilWaterfalls on the border. Around 275 separate falls make up the system. The largest is called the Devil’s Throat.
  6. Rio de JaneiroBrazilSugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer. The Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado is 98 ft (30 m) tall and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
  7. Galápagos IslandsEcuadorGiant tortoises and sea lions. Charles Darwin visited in 1835, and the animals still show little fear of people.
  8. Atacama DesertChileStarry skies over one of the driest deserts. Its clear skies are home to some of the world’s largest observatories.
  9. Perito Moreno GlacierArgentinaGlacier front on Lago Argentino. Huge chunks of ice regularly break off its front, which rises about 230 ft (70 m) above the water.
  10. AmazonBrazilInto the rainforest by boat. Manaus is the classic starting point for trips into the rainforest.
  11. CartagenaColombiaColorful old town on the Caribbean coast. The old town and its city walls, nearly seven miles long, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Europe

Colorful houses of Vernazza on a rock by the sea, with a round tower
Vernazza, Cinque Terre
White church with blue domes above the Santorini caldera
Santorini, Greece
Neuschwanstein Castle with white towers above an autumn forest, lakes and open country behind
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
The stone Bastei Bridge between tall sandstone rocks in morning light
Bastei Bridge, Saxon Switzerland
  1. ParisFranceThe Eiffel Tower and the steps of Montmartre. You can climb the stairs of the Eiffel Tower up to the second floor.
  2. Mont-Saint-MichelFranceAbbey island surrounded by the sea at high tide. Since 2014 a footbridge leads across, letting the water flow freely beneath it.
  3. LondonEnglandTower Bridge and the British Museum. Entry to the British Museum is free.
  4. RomeItalyThe Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain. Legend says that if you toss a coin over your shoulder into the fountain, you will return to Rome.
  5. Cinque TerreItalyFive colorful villages on the Ligurian coast. A railway line and coastal hiking trails connect the villages.
  6. VeniceItalyRide a vaporetto along the Grand Canal. Line 1 stops at almost every station along the canal and takes its time.
  7. Tre Cime di LavaredoItalyLoop hike in the Dolomites. The loop from Rifugio Auronzo is about six miles long and takes three to four hours.
  8. Sagrada FamíliaSpainGaudí’s basilica in Barcelona. Gaudí took over the project in 1883, and construction continues to this day.
  9. AlhambraSpainMoorish palace complex in Granada. The Nasrid Palaces have a fixed entry time, and tickets often sell out weeks in advance.
  10. LisbonPortugalTram 28 through the Alfama. The old yellow trams rattle through streets too narrow and steep for buses.
  11. SantoriniGreeceSunset in Oia. The island is the rim of a volcanic caldera, formed by an eruption about 3,600 years ago.
  12. AcropolisGreeceThe Parthenon above Athens. The Athenians built the Parthenon in the 5th century BC for the goddess Athena.
  13. DubrovnikCroatiaWalk all the way around the old town on the city walls. The walls are just over a mile long. Go early in the morning, before the heat and the crowds.
  14. Plitvice LakesCroatiaWooden boardwalks between lakes and waterfalls. Sixteen larger lakes are linked by cascades, and the park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
  15. PragueCzech RepublicCharles Bridge and Prague Castle. Early in the morning you have the bridge and its 30 or so statues almost to yourself.
  16. Schönbrunn PalaceAustriaImperial summer palace in Vienna. The palace has more than 1,400 rooms, and the Grand Tour shows you about 40 of them.
  17. HallstattAustriaVillage on Lake Hallstatt. The village is part of the Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  18. MatterhornSwitzerlandThe view from Gornergrat above Zermatt. Zermatt is car-free, and the Gornergrat railway climbs to over 10,000 ft.
  19. JungfraujochSwitzerlandEurope’s highest railway station, 11,332 ft (3,454 m). The Great Aletsch Glacier, the longest in the Alps, begins right below it.
  20. AmsterdamNetherlandsA boat ride through the canals. The 17th-century canal ring is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  21. EdinburghScotlandFrom the castle down the Royal Mile. The Old and New Towns are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and August is festival time.
  22. Isle of SkyeScotlandRock formations and coastline in western Scotland. Highlights include the Old Man of Storr and the Fairy Pools. A bridge has linked the island to the mainland since 1995.
  23. Golden CircleIcelandÞingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss waterfall. At Þingvellir you walk through the rift between the North American and Eurasian plates.
  24. LofotenNorwayFishing villages between mountains and sea. From late May to mid-July the sun does not set.
  25. Neuschwanstein CastleGermanyKing Ludwig II’s castle near Schwangau in Bavaria. You can only see the inside on a guided tour, so book tickets online in advance.
  26. BerlinGermanyBrandenburg Gate and the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse. A section of the border strip with a watchtower survives on Bernauer Strasse, and entry is free.
  27. Cologne CathedralGermanyClimb the stairs of the south tower. It is 533 steps up to the viewing platform, about 320 ft above the ground.
  28. Eltz CastleGermanyCastle in the forest above the Elzbach stream. It has belonged to the same family for more than 850 years.
  29. Bastei BridgeGermanyRock formations and views over the Elbe in Saxon Switzerland. The stone bridge dates from 1851 and links several rock towers.
  30. Middle Rhine ValleyGermanyThe Lorelei and castles along the Rhine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Between Rüdesheim and Koblenz one castle follows the next, best seen from a river boat.

Asia

A stone path leads through red torii gates in the forest
Fushimi Inari, Kyoto
Dozens of hot-air balloons at sunrise over the rocks of Cappadocia
Cappadocia, Türkiye
  1. Fushimi InariJapanThousands of red gates on a mountainside in Kyoto. The walk to the summit and back takes about two to three hours, and it gets quieter as you climb.
  2. TokyoJapanThe Shibuya crossing. Every time the lights turn green, thousands of people start walking from all sides at once.
  3. Mount FujiJapanJapan’s highest mountain, to admire or to climb. It stands 12,388 ft (3,776 m) tall. The climbing season runs in summer, usually from July to early September.
  4. Great Wall of ChinaChinaThe Mutianyu section near Beijing. It is restored, and a cable car takes you up.
  5. Hong KongChinaThe view over the harbor from Victoria Peak. The Peak Tram has been climbing to Victoria Peak since 1888.
  6. Angkor WatCambodiaSunrise over the temple complex. It is the largest religious monument in the world and appears on Cambodia’s flag.
  7. Ha Long BayVietnamLimestone islands in the sea, explored by boat. Some 1,600 islands and islets rise from the water, and the bay has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.
  8. Tegallalang Rice TerracesIndonesiaNear Ubud on Bali. Bali’s rice fields are watered by the subak system, a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape.
  9. Taj MahalIndiaWhite marble mausoleum in Agra. It is closed on Fridays. The light is most beautiful at sunrise.
  10. PetraJordanThrough the Siq gorge to the Treasury. On a few evenings a week, candles light the way for Petra by Night.
  11. Wadi RumJordanA night in a desert camp. The desert has stood in for other worlds in films such as The Martian and Dune.
  12. Burj KhalifaUnited Arab EmiratesThe world’s tallest building, 2,717 ft (828 m), in Dubai. Its observation decks are on levels 124, 125 and 148.
  13. CappadociaTürkiyeA hot-air balloon ride at sunrise. Balloons only fly in calm weather, so plan a spare day.
  14. IstanbulTürkiyeHagia Sophia and a ferry across the Bosphorus. Hagia Sophia has been a mosque again since 2020, so mind prayer times and cover your shoulders.
  15. MaldivesMaldivesSnorkel the house reef of an island. The country is made up of about 1,200 islands in 26 atolls.
  16. SigiriyaSri LankaClimb Lion Rock. About 1,200 steps lead up to the ruins of a 5th-century palace.
  17. SingaporeSingaporeGardens by the Bay in the evening. In the evening the Supertrees host a free light and music show.
  18. Everest Base CampNepalTrekking in the Himalayas. The camp sits at about 17,600 ft (5,360 m). The round trip from Lukla usually takes close to two weeks.

Africa

Large herd of wildebeest on a riverbank, with two safari vehicles in front
Wildebeest herd on an East African safari
Red sand dunes of the Namib, a photographer in the foreground
Dunes near Sossusvlei, Namibia
  1. SerengetiTanzaniaSafari during the Great Migration. The herds move in a year-round loop between the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara.
  2. KilimanjaroTanzaniaClimb Africa’s highest mountain. At 19,341 ft (5,895 m), it is the highest free-standing mountain in the world.
  3. Maasai MaraKenyaSafari in the national reserve. The herds usually cross the Mara River between July and October.
  4. Victoria FallsZambia and ZimbabweOn the Zambezi, right on the border. Locally they are called Mosi-oa-Tunya, “the smoke that thunders.”
  5. Table MountainSouth AfricaThe view over Cape Town. The cable car cabins rotate once during the ride.
  6. Okavango DeltaBotswanaGlide through the inland delta in a mokoro canoe. It is one of the largest in the world and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014.
  7. SossusvleiNamibiaRed dunes in the Namib Desert. Some dunes top 1,000 ft, and they glow brightest early in the morning.
  8. MarrakeshMoroccoJemaa el-Fnaa square in the evening. That is when food stalls, musicians and storytellers fill the square, which UNESCO lists as intangible cultural heritage.
  9. Erg ChebbiMoroccoA night in the dunes of the Sahara. The dunes near Merzouga rise up to about 500 ft.
  10. Pyramids of GizaEgyptThe pyramids and the Sphinx near Cairo. The Great Pyramid is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing.
  11. ZanzibarTanzaniaStone Town and the beaches. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its carved wooden doors.
  12. Avenue of the BaobabsMadagascarBaobab trees near Morondava. The trees are hundreds of years old and up to about 100 ft tall. Sunset is the best time.

Oceania

Mitre Peak reflected in the calm water of Milford Sound
Milford Sound, New Zealand
Aerial view of Bora Bora with Mount Otemanu and the turquoise lagoon
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
  1. Great Barrier ReefAustraliaSnorkel or dive the reef. It is the largest coral reef system on Earth, stretching more than 1,400 miles.
  2. UluruAustraliaThe red rock at sunset. Climbing the rock has been banned since 2019, as it is sacred to the Anangu.
  3. Sydney Opera HouseAustraliaOn Sydney Harbour. Jørn Utzon’s building has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007.
  4. Great Ocean RoadAustraliaCoastal road to the Twelve Apostles. The road is about 150 miles long and was built by soldiers returning from the First World War.
  5. Milford SoundNew ZealandA boat trip through the fiord. It is one of the wettest places in New Zealand. After rain, hundreds of waterfalls pour down the walls.
  6. Tongariro Alpine CrossingNew ZealandDay hike between volcanoes. The route is about 12 miles long and passes the Emerald Lakes.
  7. Bora BoraFrench PolynesiaA lagoon in the South Pacific. Mount Otemanu, the remains of an extinct volcano, rises above the lagoon.
  8. Yasawa IslandsFijiIsland chain in the west of Fiji. You get there by catamaran from Port Denarau near Nadi.

Far North and Antarctica

Green northern lights over snowy mountains and the sea
Northern lights in the far north
Penguins on rocks and snow in front of glaciers and icebergs
Penguins in Antarctica
  1. Northern lights in TromsøNorwayIn the winter months, north of the Arctic Circle. The best time is from September to March, when the nights are long and dark.
  2. North CapeNorwayMidnight sun in high summer. You can see it there from about mid-May to late July.
  3. SvalbardNorwayGlaciers and pack ice in the Arctic Ocean. Because of polar bears, it is best to leave the settlements only with a guide.
  4. LaplandFinlandThrough the snow on a dog sled. Winter brings the northern lights, summer the midnight sun.
  5. Ilulissat IcefjordGreenlandIcebergs in the fjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is fed by the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, one of the fastest in the world.
  6. AntarcticaAntarcticaExpedition cruise from Ushuaia, Argentina. Crossing the Drake Passage takes about two days, and trips run from November to March.

How to make your own travel bucket list

  1. Collect everything

    Write down every place that excites you, even if it is far away or seems expensive. You can cut later. You will find ideas in the list above, in travel stories and from friends.

  2. Sort

    Group the places, for example by continent, by season or by what fits into one trip. That way you quickly see which places go well together.

  3. Add pictures

    A photo for each place brings the list to life. You see at a glance where you want to go, and you are more likely to stick with it.

  4. Check them off

    Mark where you have already been. Little by little, your wish list turns into your travel story.

  5. Plan the next one

    Pick one place and plan it for real. The others stay on the list until it is their turn.

In Travel Wish Map, every place becomes a pin on your world map. You give it your own photo, mark it as a wish or as visited, and your stats count the countries you have visited. The AI travel pilot suggests new ideas.

For free, up to three of your places get their own photo. With Pro there is no limit, and you also get folders and the trip planner.

A bucket list for couples and friends

Shared goals are more fun when everyone can see them. In Travel Wish Map you share your list by link with a free account. If you want to plan together, create a travel room with Pro. All members add places there and see the same map.

A good start for two: each of you picks five places from the list above. Whatever is on both lists moves to the top.

Frequently asked questions

What is a bucket list?

A bucket list is a list of things you want to experience in your lifetime. The name comes from the phrase “to kick the bucket”. A travel bucket list collects the places you want to see.

How many places should be on a travel bucket list?

There is no rule. Some lists have ten places, others more than a hundred. What matters more than the number is that every place really excites you. You can add to the list or shorten it at any time.

How do I make a travel bucket list?

First write down everything that excites you, without filtering. Then sort the places, for example by continent or by season. Check off where you have already been and plan the next place. In the Travel Wish Map app, every place becomes a pin on your world map, with your own photo if you like.

Is there a printable travel bucket list template?

Yes. On this page you can print all 100 ideas as a checklist with boxes to tick. The “Print checklist” button opens the print dialog, where you can also save it as a PDF.

Can couples keep a shared bucket list?

Yes. In Travel Wish Map you share your list by link with a free account. If you want to plan together, create a travel room with Pro, where both of you add places.

Is the Travel Wish Map app free?

Yes. The app and its basic features are free. Pro and extra AI requests cost extra; you see the prices in the app. Travel Wish Map is available for Android on Google Play.

Your places on one map

Collect your bucket list as pins on a world map, with your own photos. Free for Android.

Get it on Google Play

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